De’Shay Thomas, LGSW

As a mental health professional dedicated to the well-being of Black liberated futures, I adopt a compassionate and healing-centered therapeutic approach emphasizing holistic mental health. My practice incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Harm Reduction, and Somatic-based therapies, empowering my clients to navigate their healing journeys guided by their cultural and ancestral wisdom. In 2022, I relocated to Minnesota to complete a postdoctoral program at the University of Minnesota shortly after obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work from Arizona State University. My research focuses on the lived experiences of Black LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities of color grappling with mental health challenges. Presently, I hold the licensure of a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LCSW) and am actively pursuing independent licensure and certifications in Trauma-Informed Therapy, DBT, and Body Trust practice. Black wellness holds profound significance for me, as we are intrinsically worthy of love, joy, wholeness, and the unapologetic expression of our Blackness.